Iran’s weaponization of the Strait of Hormuz is the perfect example of how modern warfare is increasingly waged, not only with drones and bombs, but also through the weaponization of economic choke points.  Today on the show, we talk to author Edward Fishman, who says the U.S. innovated a new kind of economic warfare a couple of decades ago, and that has sparked a new economic arms race.  Edward Fishman’s book is “<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/726149/chokepoints-by-edward-fishman/"target="_blank" >Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare</a>”. The Indicator has a weekly newsletter! Be among the first to sign up now: <a href="http://npr.org/indicatornewsletter"target="_blank" >npr.org/indicatornewsletter</a>  Related episodes: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/15/nx-s1-5785228/think-the-oil-shock-is-bad-in-the-us-look-here"target="_blank" >Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look here</a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/16/nx-s1-5786830/fixing-the-oil-crisis-might-not-fix-the-persian-gulf"target="_blank" >Fixing the oil crisis might not fix the Persian Gulf</a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/08/nx-s1-5776781/how-are-drivers-riding-out-the-gas-crisis"target="_blank" >How are drivers riding out the gas crisis?</a> For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" >Sierra Juarez</a>. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" >Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" >TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" >Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" >Facebook</a>, <a href="http://npr.org/indicatornewsletter"target="_blank" >Newsletter</a>. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

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